The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1887-05-11
CAPTAIN MURRAY'S TRUST.
BY *. A. RILEY.

VIDE ocean SWALLOWS up many VINO VEN
ture upon its teacherous waters, and many
who escape with their lives, after their ves-
sci has gone down into the briny flood, can
only look back with a shudder of horror
at the perils and privations they have
passed through.
In the DAYS before steamships were in
vogue, the well-built and seaworthy bWg
Tornado, commanded by Captain John
Murray, used to make an occasional trip
between the city of New Orleans and the
city of New York, carrying such passen-
gers as desired to make the voyage. On
one of these occasions an unusually large
number of passengers embarked on board
the vessel at New Orleans. Among this
number was slender young girl, about
seventeen years of age. of remarkable
beauty, who had been placed in charge of
the Captain by her relatives, with the re-
quest that she should be landed Mt
Charleston, South Carolina, where the
vessel expected to touch. This young
girl was named Adelaide Bronson,
who had been on visit to her brother in
New Orleans, and was now returning to her
parents in Charleston. The passengers
soon discovered that, in addition to being
remarkably beautiful, Adelaide was very
intelligent, and possessed all other quail
ties necessary to insure admiration. Cap
tain John Murray felt his heart warm to-
ward her from the first. The Captain was
not, as one might suppose, rough old sea
dog" who by years of command over his
men had acquired bluff air and stern
demeanor, but was young-only twenty
four-with handsome, pleasant face and
courteous air, yet the set of his mouth and
the stately poise of his head showed that
he possessed a will-power that would carry
him through dangers and difficulties where
a., <.,N. foI I.-
loved, respected, feared, and obeyed him.
Captain Murray was unmarried, and it
was natural that his heart should warm
toward the most lovable, the most beautiful
female he had ever beheld, and he con-
Quoted himself toward her with his natural
gallantry, and showed her those delicate
attentions which a lady of her intelligence
could duly appreciate. The voyage was
commenced under favorable auspices. After
having once cleared the Mississippi,
smacking breeze carried the brig swiftly
forward upon her course.
"At this rate" said the Captain to his
mate, I'VE shall be opposite to Havana in
two days at the furthest." The vessel sped
onward under the influence of the fine
breeze, and in a little less than forty EIGHT
hours had arrived at Key West City, on Key
West Island, south of Florida, which is
about one hundred and fifty miles north
west of Havana. Stopping here for few
hours, the brig resumed her course, steering
south of the Florida Reefs, upon which so
many vessels are annually wrecked. For
five or six hours the vessel kept steadily on
dts way. All at once there burst upon the
brig one of those sudden and furious storms
so common in that latitude. 1t came up so
quickly that they had not time to prepare
the vessel before 1t was upon them.
Bronze checked sailors turned pale who
had never felt fear before, for in spite of
all the efforts of the gallant crew, the fu-
rious tornado was bearing its namesake
directly toward the fatal Florida Reefs.
Onward the vessel rushed, scudding under
bare poles, for every sail was split TO rib
,bons. The chain of low islands called the
Florida Reefs were not yet in view when
the storm began to lull, and hope sprang
up once more. storm stay-sail was tried
and found to bear. Other sails were being
bent, when suddenly a crashing, grating
noise was heard along the vessels keel.
"Ah! we're done for now" exclaimed the
Captain to his first mate; Eve have rushed
over one of the sunken reefs. Go below
and see what is the damage, while / order
the men to man the pumps so as 10 have
them ready in case we can do any good with
them"
GAY! ay! SIR" responded the mate, as
,he bounded down into the hold. He soon
returned, with an ashen hue upon his face,
and said. II fear, sir, the pumps will be
of little use; the water is rushing in at a
dozen great rents faster than forty times the
number of pumps we have could pump it
out"
"How long do you suppose we can keep
.afloat?" asked the Captain calmly, though
his face expressed the anxiety he felt.
"Twenty minutes, and not more than
thirty at the furthest."
The gurgling sound of the water rushing
into the hold was now plainly TO be heard.
The passengers were collected around,
holding on as best they could to keep the
iurching of the vessel from throwing them
overheard, and manifesting great distress,
with the exception of small group who
had collected near the Captain, and among
this group was Adelaide Bronson. Cap
tain Murray gave one glance upon Ade-
.laide, a hopeless. longing glance, and then
looked out upon the stormy sea. The
waves we're dashing high, and the pros
pect indeed seemed hopeless.
All at once the Captain placed his
trumpet to his mouth and shouted: "Man
the boats!"
"Why man the boats?" said the mate
~no boat could live in such a sea as this"
~That may be true, replied the Captain,
shut we can all get into the boats, and let
them remain fastened to the brig, until the
very moment she is going down, and then
cut loose, and thus we won't be sucked
downward to such a great depth by the
sinking vessel, nor be killed by the frag-
ments bursting upward; and if the boats
swamp some may be able to get hold Of
fragments, that will support them, until the
sea becomes calm"
Il understand" replied the mate, but
I can't see much hope in either case"
~Heave away, my hearties, never say
diel" shouted the Captain to the men who
were lowering the yawl; and they did heave
away and the boat was soon rocking upon
the billowy tide. The other boats, three in
number, had been lowered at the same time
ct other points; and general scramble
commenced to see who should be first tc
eet in them. Captain Murray now turned